Hundreds of Fifth Third Bank customers in the
Toledo area recently received notices telling them
how much money they would be charged for their
safe-deposit boxes in January, 1900. Apparently
they don't have to pay a century's worth of
interest on that charge.

Fifth Third is one of many companies that have
experienced a Year 2000 problem - even before
the New Year's weekend when the whole world
will be looking for so-called Y2K glitches.

Most banks, including Fifth Third, have told
customers they're Y2K-ready, having spent
millions of dollars to update and upgrade
computer systems to properly read two-digit dates
that otherwise could misread "00" to mean 1900
instead of 2000. Most area banks have scheduled
extra staff this weekend to make sure computers,
phone lines, and automated-teller machines are
functioning - and to keep ATMs stocked with
extra cash.

As for Fifth Third's flawed notice, it was
generated by a personal computer within the
bank, and the error wasn't caught until 1,500 of
the 5,500 statements were mailed, said Karen
Fraker, marketing vice president.

"It was not a mainframe problem," she said,
referring to the bank's central computer system.
"This is not a critical system. It's nothing that
would affect a customer's funds. Quite honestly,
this is the type of glitch that people will see for
Y2K."

In Maine, owners of 2000-model cars and trucks
received titles identifying their new vehicles as
"horseless carriages," the designation used for
vehicles produced before 1916. About 800
passenger car titles and about 1,200 tractor-trailer
titles were issued with the error.

Hershey Foods Corp. faced distribution delays
because of trouble with a new $112 million
automation system designed in part to prevent
Y2K problems. At the height of problems in
October, several retailers were reporting
shortages that forced them to turn to other candy
makers to fill bare shelves.

Answers

"It was not a mainframe problem," she said, referring to the bank's
central computer system. "This is not a critical system. It's nothing
that would affect a customer's funds. Quite honestly, this is the
type of glitch that people will see for Y2K."

Hmmm...it just might effect customer confidence. A few of these
problems and weak responses from bankers and you have a panic.

It wasn't a "mission-critical" system - just a PC. The non-critical
systems are going to bring us down. I'm preaching to the choir, but
how many of you work at a business that purchases non-critical
computer systems? Every system serves a vital function somewhere in
the business plan. Every system that fails introduces
inefficiencies. If enough of these "non-critical" systems fail the
business fails.

ya, only assuming people will sit around with their thumb up there
nose and not fix them... Our entire IT staff is prepared to fix
anything and everything that breaks, everybody is on call... as is
most of corporate IT america... adrenaline is pretty awesome... I
feel like i'm getting ready to run a hell of a race...